Slovenia - ideas please!

[thesugarbumfairy]

I just booked flights to Ljubljana for the last week of July for me and my boys (17,14) If anyone can help me with an itinerary that would be fab. No accomodation booked yet.

I dont want to drive particularly or do much travelling as my last holiday was lovely but a different place every day.
Happy to get buses. I would probably spend at least the first and last night in Ljubljana for convenience (i believe there are trains direct to airport - is that the easiest way?) Then time in the middle based in Bled perhaps?
I would like to see waterfalls and try paddleboarding. Is there any snorkelling? Id like to have a swim either in lake or pool or both!
A bit of culture like castles would be great.
The kids arent massively sporty (and i cant walk loads due to dodgy joints)but will have a go at a few things!
Any ideas send this way please.

Lake bled has a lido for swimming, right on the lake. Buses from Ljubljana are easy to take. It has a train station too.
The summer tobbogan in bled is worth a go too.
Kranjska gora has sporty things to do.
Lake Bohinj might have paddle boarding and used to have an electric taxi boat.
There's loads to do, it's beautiful and I'm sure you'll all have a ball.

I don't have any suggestions but I was in a coach passing through Slovenia en route to Croatia and it was such a beautiful country!!!! Enjoy!!!

Forgot the castle. The castle in Bled is pretty impressive, but a bit of a hike if you walk up to it.

Slovenia is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever been to.

Bled is magical. Recommend the Vintgar Gorge walk and heading out to Lake Bohinj.

In Ljubljana I remember Metelkova (sp) was fun (we stayed there for a few days), and just loads of charming nooks and crannies around the city- felt like a lovely place to just wander.

You can get a bus to lake bohinj for the day - we did the opposite to visit lake bled. It's much less built up and definitely worth a trip. You can get a cable car up to the top of the mountain too from Ukanc , then chair lifts are free once up there. Not cheap but fab if you fancy getting up high.
We also hired kayaks on bohinj and walked from the campsite at Ukanc to Slap Savica.

The caves at Postojna are really worth a visit. A 40 ish minute bus ride from Ljubljana and we had a really amazing day there. It would be especially true when it's hot in the summer.

Lake Bohinj is more beautiful and natural than Bled. There's also a cable car/funicular there that shows a beautiful view of the mountains.

The bus to Bohinj takes 2 hours. I’d definitely recommend a few days there.

Go to visit the Lippizaner stud farm in Lipica - Info here

DH and I agree that our holiday in Slovenia was one of our favourite holidays. Such a beautiful country. We stayed up in Kranjska Gora in the foothills of the Julian Alps and on the border with Italy and Austria - some beautiful walking there.

We had a wonderful Slovenia last year. You are in for a real treat!

While we hired a car, Slovenia is a small country and the transport connections are good and so you can manage it without a car, with a few exceptions.

Basing yourself in Lake Bled will mean that you will be able to access lots of the outdoor activities, such as the toboggan run, wonderful zip lines through the valley, activities on the lake. I think that you can hire paddle boards from the side near the campsite (you can walk around the lake in a couple of hours). It is beautiful and safe to swim, and you can hire rowboats to take you around the lake or into the church in the middle. A trip up to Bled castle is nice, and Ljubjlana castle is lovely too.

If you possibly can get to the Postonja caves, they are stunning. You can do day trips from either Bled or Ljubljana, maybe combining it with the castle there. If you book cave tickets for yourself, make sure you get them in good time- it gets busy.

Finally, a couple days at the coast is a very relaxing end to the holiday. We stayed in Piran which is very pretty, with small beaches and lovely food.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross my best friend would absolutely LOVE visiting the Lippanzer horses. Sadly she's not coming with us and I don't think the boys will be interested.

I've got a vague plan now. We are staying in Lubjljana the first two nights so will do any city roaming then and on day 3 morning. Day two will book a day trip to the Postojna Caves and castle.

Day three will move location to Bled for 4 nights. So visiting the castle and doing any activities and visiting waterfall etc

Then final night we are staying in an apartment near to the airport just for convenience really (and the fact that its a shit load cheaper than the apartment I got in Bled!)

I would seriously reconsider driving as the Slovenians are good and disciplined drivers and the roads good and it’s pleasant and not difficult to hire a reasonably priced car .

However factoring getting around by buses is very time consuming and you really will miss out being able to stop and try little places or inns are restaurants etc . I use a broker like Discover cars as much cheaper than using money supermarket or the big chain brands .

You definitely won’t regret having the freedom a car will give in Slovenia I promise !

thanks @Ineedabiscuit I have caved and hired a car.

I think you’ve done the right thing . You’ll have great time , it’s a beautiful country !

How did you get on? Would love to read a trip report.

It was great. Mostly I've forgotten 😂 the hire car from the airport was really useful ( was sixt) I dont like driving abroad but I sucked it up and Slovenia's pretty easy. Didn't find Ljubljana all that interesting but it was fine for a short stay. The place we stayed at in bled was great and walkable to the main bit. Highlights we 9am paddle boarding which was lovely and peaceful and we got to (illicitly) visit the Island. Zipwires which the boys enjoyed. I was terrified but I did it. Postojna caves. Really worth it. Parking tricky - get there early. Didn't pay to go in the castle but did drive there afterwards for photos. Vintgar gorge. Didn't do whole walk - took hot - paid for a minibus back to the car park! Beautiful though. We did a visit to lake bodinj for a swim too. Hard to find parking! Overall totally recommended. Trying lake Garda this year as eldest loved paddle boarding (but not in UK!!)

Thank you!